Moving picture recording and projection apparatus



June 2, 1931. M. R. Huc: 1,808,603

MOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed March 19. 1927 5sneets-snet 1 n,Zzaezz for M. R. HUC

June 2, 1931.

MOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed Hatch 19. 1927 5Sheng-Sheet 2 June 2, 1931.- M, R, HUC 1,808,603

MOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION VAPPARATUS Filled March '19.1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zzvayzow 7/farce2l f Hue,

@ww @WQ June 2, 1931. M, R, HUC 1,808,603

IIOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed March 19. 19,275 Sheets-Sheet' 4 June 2, 1931. M R HUC; 1,808,603

MOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed urcn 19, 1927 5sheets-sheet 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARCEL REMY HUC, OF TOULOUSE,FRANCE MOVING PICTURE RECORDING AND PROJECTION APPARATUS The presentinvention relates to moving picture recording and projection apparatusand more especially to apparatus of the type designed to record on or toprojectJ from a film moving at an uninterrupted, uniform speed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus in whichthere is a minimum of lost motion between the parts designed to operatein accurate timed relation to one another.

Another object is to provide means for isolating each negative from theone adjoining during the entire period of exposure or projection.

Still another object is to provide means for centering the image withoutshifting the objective.

An additional object is to provide means for preventing traction on thefilm as it passes over the speed regulating sprockets, thereby insuringa perfectly7 uniform speed past the projecting orifice.

A further object is to provide a new and compact form of oscillatingshutter.

Still further objects will appear in the course of the detaileddescription which will now be given with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is an optical diagram illustrating theprinciple of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in section; of one form of theinvention.

Fig. 3 shows an elevation of a timing cam forming part of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section of one form of mechanism designed to actuate amoving aperture of the type shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section through a second form of mechanism of the type shownin Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows, in section, another form of mechanism for centering asthat shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side View, partly in section, of a second form of theinvention;

Fig. 8 shows a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 illustrates, in section; a variant of the apparatus shown inFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a partial section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring' to Figs. 1 to 6, there is shown a film 1 arranged to move inthe direction 2 over a guiding surface 3 provided with a fixed aperture4 greater than the height of a single negative (approximately equal tothe height of two). A light source 6 sends light through condenser 7which concentrates a luminous cone on aperture 4. Guiding surface 3 isin the form of a cylinder having its axis 8 on the side of surface 3opposite source 6. An optically finished refiecting surface 9 isrotatably mounted to turn on a shaft coinciding with axis 8.

Assuming the film to be moving past aperture 4 with an angular velocitya and that reflecting surface 9 turns in the direction of arrow 10 witha velocity of a, then virtual image 11 of the portion of the filmpassing aperture 4 will appear stationary to a spectator placed in thecone of luminous rays refiected from surface 9, while, at the same timethe virtual image of the edges of the aperture will appear to thespectator to be moving before the unmovable virtual image of the film 11at speed a in the direction of arrow 2.

By interposing an objective 12 in the path of the luminous conerefiected from surface 9, a real stationary image 13 of the film can beobtained.

From the preceding, it will be seen that the present apparatus can beused with the usual type 0f interchangeable objectives having differentfocal lengths which permit the production of an image of any desiredsize on a screen arranged at any given distance.

It will be noted that the height of fixed aperture 4 was given as beinggreater than that of a single negative. In projecting from the film,portions of the negatives adjacent the one desired would therefore beshown with the one being projected and means must therefore be providedfor isolating each negative from those adjoining during the interval ofprojection. To this end7 an oscillating aperture 14 (Fig. 2) is providedwhich moves at the speed of the film and frames each negative as itmakes an excursion past xed aperture 4. The real image of this isolatednegative, as received on screen 13, is seen in its proper orientationonly when the spectator is behind said screen, the latter being,supposedly, translucent. Since most screens are arranged to be viewed bydiffusion i. e. from the same side as the projecting apparatus, meansmust be provided for correcting the image. This may be simplyaccomplished by reflecting the beam coming from surface 9 from a secondreflecting surface 15. After this second reflection the beam may be madeto traverse objective 12 and, falling on screen 13, will give a real,unmovable and properly oriented image.

When it is desired to project, the film is set in motion in a downwarddirection. As soon as a negative arrives at a position where its upperborder coincides with the upper edge of fixed aperture 4, movableaperture 14 frames the negative and begins to descend therewith. At thesame time surface 9 begins to rotate in the direction of arrow 10 at onehalf the angular velocity of the film and the shutter uncovers theobjective. During the period that the film remains framed by movingaperture 14, surface 9 continues to rotate. l/Vhen the upper border ofthe film has descended a distance A (which is less than the height ofthe negative) below the upper edge of fixed aperture 4, the shutteragain covers the objective and movable aperture 14 and surface 9 come torest. This phase corresponds to that of actual projection (or to therecording period where the apparatus is used to register a scene).

During the period that the objective remains covered by the shutter,aperture 14 ascends and surface 9 rotates in the direction opposite toarrow 1 0. This return movement is accomplished progressively by means,to be described later, which prevent shock and during the interval oftime required by the upper edge of the negative to traverse the distanceB-A, B designating the height of the negative. This interval, whichcorresponds to the period of non-exposure, is smaller the closer theratio approaches unity.

The height of fixed aperture 4 should be at least that of a negativeplus distance A. The opaque edges of aperture 14 forming the frame forthe moving negative should each have a height at least equal to A.

As soon as aperture 14 and surface 9 arrive at their initial positionthey are ready to repeat the foregoing operations with a secondnegative; then with a third, and so on indefinitely.

The alternate rotation of surface 9 in opposite directions may beaccomplished yin a variety of ways. The mechanisms shown here are of thecam actuated type and comprise a cam 16 keyed to the film actuatingshaft 17, said cam actuating a roller 19 attached to the end of a lever18 moving against the action of a spring 20. Lever 1S oscillates surface9. l

Where, as in the present construction, the cam is mounted on the filmactuating shaft, the former is given the profile shown in Fig. 3. a, c,(Z, c, represent the period of exposure and e, 7, a, the period ofnon-exposure. Angles a and represent the angular distances correspondingto a, c, d, e, and to e, f, a respectively. The period of non-exposuremay be made any small fraction of the period of exposure by diminishingthe value of the ratio If it is desired to eliminate the shutter fromthe present apparatus, it is only necessary to choose a cam, giving aratio which is very small. The visual sensation experienced by thespectator will then become identical with the one obtained by thecombination of a shutter with a ratio which is relatively large.

In prior apparatus of the type herein described it has been customary tomount the cam and the toothed film actuating drum on separate shafts.Since the film actuating mechanism is usually arranged to advance thefilm at the rate of four negatives, per, revolution of the film engagingdrum, the prior art devices had to provide means for rotating the camshaft four times for each revolution of said drum. This multiplicationwas generally obtained by the use of "gears having the proper`multiplying ratio.

But these geared systems suffer from the disadvantage inherent in allgeared systems i. e. that they cannot be operated without lost motion.In the present type of apparatus, this lost motion is fatal to properoperation since it destroys the exact synchronism necessary between themotion of the film and the movement of surface 9. By employing a camhaving four successive surfaces giving the timing relation shown by thecam illustrated in F ig. 3 and by mounting said cam directly on theshaft carrying the toothed film actuating drum (Fig. 2), the gearedsystem of multiplication with its inherent lost-motion is done awaywith, and an exact timing relation is assured between the film andreflecting surface 9.

Proper timing of the motion of movable aperture 14 may be obtained bymaking use of cam 16, as control, or, as will be shown later, by the useof an auxiliary cam mounted on shaft 17. The timing mechanism shown inFigs. 2 and 4 includes an apertured cylindrical surface mounted on theextremity of an arm 22 rigidly connected to a sleeve 23 loosely mountedon shaft 8. Sleeve 23 is formed with a toothed portion 24 functioning asa pinion which meshes with planetary gear 25 rotatably mounted on ashaft 26 rigidly connected to crank 27 which is keyed onto shaft 8. Gear25 also meshes with a toothed surface 28 concentric with shaft 8, saidtoothed surface being rigidly connected to frame 29 serving as a journalfor shaft 8.

Vith this timing mechanism, aperture 14 may be made to descend with anangular velocity twice that of the rotating surface 9 i. e. at the samevelocity of the descending film. The ascending movement of the apertureis accomplished progressively and without shock in the same manner asdescribed in connection with the reversing movement of in Fig. 5, arm 22is driven by a bevel (rear 33 rotatably mounted on shaft 34 whic isintegral with a sleeve keyed to shaft 8. Toothed surface 28 of Fig. 4 ishere replaced by fixed bevel gear 31, and pinion 24 by bevel gear 32.

Means are provided in the present machine for insuring the exactcentering of each negative in movable aperture 14 despite irregularitiesin the pitch of teeth of the film. This means comprises (Fig. 2) anidler, rotatably or not mounted on a shaft 35, journalled on the end ofan arm 36 pivotally mounted on fixed shaft 37. Means (not shown) areprovided for fixing arm 36 in any position of angular adjustment. Arm 36may be adjusted by means of handle 38 or in any other manner desired. Itmay be held in position by providing a frictional fit of arm 36 on'shaft37 or by any convenient locking arrangement. The surface of the idleris, preferably, made slightly concave so as to limit the wear on thefilm to the lateral edges. From the foregoing, it will be evident, thatby adjusting the position of the idler, any

negative may be exactly centered in movable aperture 14.

A second form of centering mechanism is shown in Fig. 6 and is designedto be operated by the mechanisms mounted on shaft 17 Here, cam 16 isrigidly attached to shaft 17, while toothed drum 21, which actuates thefilm, may be adjusted to occupy any angular position relatively to saidshaft. To this end, a nut 39 is made integral with drum 21 and engageswith a screw 40 of long pitch carried by a slotted sleeve 41 arranged toslide along a pin fixed on shaft 17. Sleeve 41 carries a pair ofshoulders 42 which embrace an arm 43 rigidly mounted on a nut 44 whichmay be displaced longitudinally along screw 45 by rotating cra-nk 46. Itwill be at once evident that manipulation of crank 46 will produce aslight angular displacement of sprocket 21 on its shaft i. e. will alterthe angular relation of cam 16 and said sprocket and will, therefore,center the moving negative in aperture 14.

Ordinarily the winding-up roll 47, provided in machines of this type,serves to draw the film over sprocket drum 21, but since the roll exertsan irregular traction, it tends to throw the perforations in the filmout of alignment with the teeth of the drum thus giving the film ajerking motion and producing a trembling movement of the image on thescreen. To prevent such action taking place, a supplementary tootheddrum 48 is interposed between the wind-up roll 47 and toothed drum 21.Drums 48 and 47 are interconnected by a chain 48 or other form of drivewhich insures an identical speed for both of these elements. The film isthen arranged to belly loosely between the two drums. All traction onthe film beyond drum 21 is thus eliminated and the film speed iscontrolled completely by said drum.

Any convenient means may be employed for rotating the shutter in timedrelation to shaft 17. Shutter may, for example be driven by a train ofgeared elements 62, 63, 64.

The form of apparatus shown in Figs. 7 to 11 is designed to provide asimpler arrangement of elements than that described in connection withFig. 2.

The optical system has been modified here so as to eliminate thereflecting prism 15 which is costly and which requires the use Ofobjectives of long focal length, which latter must frequently besupplemented by an additional optical system for enlarging the image onthe screen. It suffices to reverse the face of the film being exposedand to move in the suitable sense the latter upwardly instead ofdownwardly to accomplish the simiplification desired, since theprojected image then has the desired orientation on the screen.

A further simplification in this machine is the elimination of drum 48.

Finally, an arrangement is shown for adapting the machine directly toexisting forms of arc and incandescent lamps.

These various simplifications are obtained by assembling the operatingelements in the following way Condenser 7 provides a luminous cone 50which is reflected at 52 onto a segment 5 of film 1 passing over a fixedaperture 4 formed in hollow cylinder 53. A reflecting surface 9 isrotatably mounted on shaft 8 located on the axis of cylinder 53. Movableaperture 14 isolates each negative in the manner described in connectionWith Fig. 2. rlhe image re'- flected by surface 9 is projected throughobjective 12 onto a suitably arranged screen. The film coming from itsreel,-Which latter is provided with a suitable braking mechanism forpreventing a jerking motionpasses through a passage following thecontour of cylinder 53 over aperture 4 and is taken up by an idlermounted on a shaft 35 and adj ustab-ly supported on arm 36 in a mannerdescribed in connection With Fig. 2. The film then passes over tootheddrum 21,- Which is here provided with a spring actuated film guidingmember 54,--bellies out of contact with drum 21 at 56, then is made toreengage With the teeth of said drinn by means of a second springactuated guide 55. Guide 55 is, preferably, in the form of an idlerpulley and serves to guide the film to Wind-up reel 47 which is rotatedin any appropriate Way. Drum 21, in this form of apparatus, functions inthe same Way as the combined drums 21 and 48 in Fig. 2. Reflectingsurface 9 is mounted on shaft 8 Which is oscillated by arm 18 Whoseextremity 19 presses against cam 16 under the action of spring 20.Movable aperture 14 is supported on shaft 58 which is oscillated by arm59 Whose extremity is held in contact by spring 60 With a cam 61 mountedon shaft 17. Shaft 17, by means of gears 62, 63, controls the rotationof shaft 64 Which turns shutter 65. Vith this arrangement reflectingsurface 9 and movable aperture 14 are completely independent.

In the device shown in Fig. 10, shutter 65 and its driving elements 62,63, 64, are replaced by an oscillating shutter 66 mounted on a shaft 67concentric with shafts 8 and 58. Shutter 66 is oscillated by an arm 68bearing against a cam 69 of appropriate contour keyed to shaft 17.Shutter 66 masks movable aperture 14 during the interval ofnon-projection and uncovers the latter during the projection period.

The optical system may be isolated from the mechanical system by meansof enclosures 70 and 71 and the Whole apparatus lubricated by a forcepump or by gravity.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen, that a compact, simpleand extremely precise apparatus is provided for continuous projection(or registration) of film moving at uniform velocity.

The invention is not to be understood as being limited to the particularconstructions described. Thus, the film actuating mechanism described inconnection vvith Fig. 7 i. e. with a single toothed drum, may besubstituted in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, or the special opticalsystem of Fig. 7 transferred to the modificationin Fig. 2, or thespecial shutter shown in Fig. 10 adapted to either of the apparatusesshown in Figs. 2 or 7, etc. etc., Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

lt is further to be understood that devices equivalent to those shovvnmay be substituted for those described. Thus any appropriate reflectingsurface, plane or otherwise formed, and made up of silvered, orplatinized surfaces or of totally reflecting prisms may be employed toaccomplish the function of surfaces 9 and 15; lms exposed in apparatusof the type described may be projected in the same form of apparatususing only an oscillating reflecting surface 9 (the surface 15 beingthen unnecessary) When employing the projecting system illustrated inFig. 2, and running the film through the apparatus Without turning thefilm over during projection (this being necessary only With filmrecorded in cameras of current design) When employino' the form ofapparatus shovvn in Fig. 7; an oscillating reflecting system (prism ormirror) may be provided instead of the one shown, in which thereflecting surface is so actuated that the beam of light coming from thecondenser is reflected so as to follow the movement of aperture 14lduring the interval of projection; etc; etc.

What I claim is 1. A film manipulating apparatus comprising incombination a fixed cylindrical film guiding surface having an apertureformed therethrough, a film storage reel, a film Windup reel, arotatable shaft located intermediate said reels, a cam mounted on saidvshaft, a toothed drum mounted on said shaft, framing means adapted toisolate a picture unit of the film passing in front of the aperture ofthe film guiding surface, a reflecting surface positioned so as tointercept light coming from said aperture, and means operable byrotation of the cam for oscillating said framing means and saidreflecting means about a common axis at different angular velocities.

2. A film manipulating apparatus comprising in combination a fixed filmguiding surface having an aperture formed therethrough, means for movinga film past said aperture at a substantially uniform velocity, framingmeans adapted to isolate a picture unit of the film passing in front ofsaid aperture, means for oscillating said framing means in the directionof the height of said aperture, a rotatable reflecting surface locatedso as to intercept light traversing said aperture, an objectivepositioned to receive light reflected from said reflecting surface,shutter means, a rotatable shaft, and means associated with said shaftfor driving the framing means, the rotatable reflecting surface and theshutter in a predetermined time relation to the film speed.

3. A film manipulating apparatus comprising in combination a fixed filmguiding surface having an aperture therethrough, a

film storage reel, a film Wind-up reel, a rotatable shaft locatedlintermediate said reels, a cam, a toothed ,film actuating drum and abevel gear each mounted on said shaft, framing lmeans adapted to isolatea picture unit of the film passing the aperture in the film guidingsurface, a reflecting surface positioned to intercept light traversing`said aperture, means operable by rotation of the cam for oscillatingsaid framing means and said reflecting means about a common axis atdifferent velocities, a shutter and means associated With the bevel gearfor driving said shutter.

4. A film manipulating apparatus comprising in combination a fixed filmguiding surface having an aperture therethrough, means for moving a filmat a substantially uniform velocity past said aperture, framing meansadapted to isolate a picture unit of the film passing said aperture,reflecting means positioned to intercept light traversing said aperture,a film storage reel, a lm Wind-up reel, a rotatable shaft mountedintermediate said reels, a toothed film actuating drum, a pair of camsand a bevel gear each mounted on said shaft, a shutter, and meansoperable by the elements mounted on the shaft to move the framing means,the refleeting surface, and the shutter in a predetermined timerelation.

5. A lm manipulating apparatus comprising in combination a fixedcylindrical lm guiding surface having an aperture formed therethrough, afilm storage reel, a film Wind-up reel, a rotatable shaft mountedintermediate said reels, a cam system and a toothed drum mounted on saidshaft, framing means adapted to isolate a picture unit of the filmpassing the aperture in the cylindrical film guiding surface, areflecting surface positioned so as to intercept light traversing saidaperture, a shutter mounted between said framing means and saidreflecting surface, and means operable by rotation of the cam system tooscillate the framing means, the reflecting surface and the shutter,about a common axis in a predetermined time relation.

6. In combination, a film supply reel, a guide having a projectingaperture formed therein, a toothed film actuating drum, a pair of guideelements positioned to apply the film at two spaced points on theperiphery of said drum, a Wind-up reel, a iilm mounted to move from saidsupply reel in front of said projecting aperture, then into contact Withsaid drum at two diierent points under the action of said guideelements, so as to form a loose loop of film, and finally onto saidWind-up reel, and means for rotating saidirum continuously at a uniformrate of spee 7 In combination, a film supply reel, a cylindrical guidehaving a projecting apermy hand.

MARCEL REMY HUC.

